The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-28
VOICE OF THE PROPAE.
uissery or Csttsa seed ". Comb
nations.

History Of Cetic. ssed ". CSnsi-
10 the Editor Of The Appeals
Since the advent Of cotton seed oil
mills, cotton seed has been the worst
bamboosled product Of agriculture.
Unlike cotton, wheat or any other
product Of the soil, II has never bad
common MAJ value. Combinations
have been formed which have fixed
prices to suit themselves-only when
o new mill bad the audacity to rear
Its head. Then war was raised on
II, and In self defense II would have 10
join the combination. In the early
history Of the busine,s those prices
were almost as varied as there were
seed sellers.
The first combination was made by
the managers OF the individual mills
agreeing not to raise on each other
A price was agreed on between them,
each one binding himself not to ex.
coed IL; but some OF the sharp ones
got to making presents $4,000, for In.
stance, to man who handled large
amount Of seed } 80 as to increase their
receipts and consequent revenue. At
that time the profits of the oil bust.
ness were enormous, and fortunes
were made In Q day. Those wonder.
ful profits resulted In q great multlpli.
cation Of oil mills all over the South.
Competition ran high and, producers
got something like the value for their
seed. OF course, the immense profits
disappeared.
These mill owners then formed com.
binations. Ttoe In Mem ohis called
themselves the Memphis Cotton seed
Association" They organised for the
oetensible purpose Of reducing ex.
pensss In hauling seed and the com.
mendable purpose oil sddirg that
much more 10 the PRODUCER pocket.
The ie,ult was that the producers got
left. Everybody knows that. This
N. o, 3, A. lived long enough TO get
Itself In bad repute, and then died,
but soon rose again with q larger
and much more imposing name. The
first letter OF II was "The Memphis
Cotton Seed and Oil Exchange" Il
sbounded In red tape.
A new mill or two had the audscity
70 grow up, and after making noble
Fight to force them into Itself, the N.
o. 8. and 0. Il kicked he. bucket and
w.nt down covered oil over init
some glories."
The brains Ct the sharp fellows were
fertile, however, and soon the "Great
American OIL Trust" evolved, with
tentaoles reaching 10 the remotest
bounds OF the cotton seed territory.
We thought We were done for then.
This octopus gobbled about oil the
mills that were OF any account, but
the newspapers over the country got
hold oil them, and when they eased up
the stock OF the poor ching had ma.
l'ed down 10 29i cents.
IL would appear that the Memphis
part OF the A. o. I. were afraid 10 no
into the market for reed this season
under their last name, after the casii.
CATION they got from the paper.
Aliases" seem plenty, however, and
lol now We have the "Memphia Cot.
ION Seed Company"
Now this great American Gyas.
cults" talks beautifully 10 You when
you 20 TO contract with II for saaa I,
Almost with tears In its eyee. xviii
tell you how iearfully small ttS6 profits
are when Il 10 fore, d 10 pay sl2 per ton
Tor seed at Memphis, because Of com.
petition raised ny four or fiye other
mills not in.ss ring. Blu. Il can come
ont hete 10 Oovington. with man 10
act u agent at $50 or go a month (it
could not get man In Coyington to
buy for II unless IL guaranteed q sal.
ary)-for reasons see advertisement
and pay SIS 80 per ton, taking the pro-
ducers' weights. The freight 10 Mem.
phls per ton on seed 10 81 40, which,
with the salary OF the agent added,
makes the net at Memphis d least
sl7 so.
Now for the mix In my cocoanut.
The cotton seed problem is solved
night here In Ooyington.
There 10 q cotton seed Inter and
huller here. The lint IL first taken
from the seed, them the meats are tep.
arated In the huller and sacked, ready
Tor shipment. The revenue from the
lint and bulls and the saving Of freight
are items that will ir'EE'e out that 29l
cent stock I'LL they can't run after any.
body fast enough 10 give Il TO them.
See advertisement, and write 10 me Tor
inioim ition m. BOYD.